mercredi 19 août 2009

Que le monde change!

All humans who love must understand the necessity of change! Unfortunately, the human brain has not the capacity to embrace a concept so enormously complex and frequently ruthless.

You may have already giggled at the sight of me in pink shorts upon discovering this post. I have posted this photo to highlight the gay spirit (LOL) which greeted me as I arrived at my three month layover in Amarillo. You may already be familiar with the events of this summer and understand how blessed I feel to have been here with family and friends before leaving for France; however, in an effort to “drive the point home” I would like to share the following:

As I said goodbye to Chase and Nicole tonight, I realized that this life, in its many moments of change, never allows for vain moments of idleness. If one admits that there have been times which have taught us nothing, one fails miserably to recognize that every moment of every day is to be lived with intent and purpose. Before I arrived in Amarillo, I expected to learn nothing that I hadn’t already known; instead, I became a master at the art of cubing (solving a Rubik’s Cube), a jean expert, a good friend in three relationships, and a believer in providence. These things all because of the love and support I have received from this West Texas community. So as Chase and Nicole return to Rochester, New York in the morning while David becomes more habituated with his life as an Okie, I will embrace my final two weeks in the High Plains of Texas by (as Amber commented on my last post) “…drink[ing] some shiner, eat[ing] some steak, sip[ing] some iced tea, kick[ing] back in the AC, listen[ing] to the crazy thunderstorms, enjoy[ing] the 24 hour convenience of walmart, drive[ing] ruby (my car), say[ing] y'all, and notic[ing] the touchability of the toilet to the tub.... for soon they shall all be gone!” In addition to this, I will also endear the last moments I spend with my family. Although I am sad to see this American life leave me, I have never felt more right about something as I do about moving to France! This summer has given me the much needed confidence to leave American Eagle™, board American Eagle™ and fly away.

This past Saturday as I unenthusiastically folded jeans only to have the takers (customers) pull them out of the wall once again, I encountered a family looking for a pair of Bootcut – Light Bleach Repair Wash jeans for their son. Without speaking, I saw what the family needed and escorted them to a wardrober where the jeans were hanging. When I asked what size the son needed, I heard the mother trying to interpret what I was saying into French. WHAT?!?!?! SHE’S NOT SPEAKING SPANISH?!?!?! I politely asked, “Parlez-vous français?” to which she bewilderingly answered, “OUI!” It turns out that the family was on vacation and in the process of touring the Southern United States when they got the “hankerin’“ for some good ole’ west Texas mall shoppin’. How fortunate that our paths crossed!

This past Sunday as I exited the men’s locker room at the Town Club to begin my workout, I open the door to a father standing in the hallway saying to his children, “Là c’est pour les filles et là c’est pour les garçons.” He was instructing them, IN FRENCH, where to go in order to change after having enjoyed an afternoon at the pool. I then reacted by asking, “Parlez-vous français?” to which the father bewilderingly answered, “OUI! Parlez-vous français?” to which I enthusiastically answered, “OUI!” It turns out that the family was from Cameroun and now lives in Amarillo where they often get the “hankerin’” for some good ole’ west Texas dives in the local watering hole. How fortunate that our paths crossed!

Today, when I asked a man in our store if he was looking for jeans, I received this response in English, “Do you speak French?” to which I enthusiastically answered, “OUI!” The man was floored at receiving the response he had never in a million years expected to receive in Amarillo, Texas. It turns out that he and his wife were on vacation from their home in Belgium with their daughter who just graduated from a university in Montreal when they too got the “hankerin’” for some good ole’ west Texas mall shoppin’. How fortunate that our paths crossed!

The odds of finding people who speak French in Amarillo are extremely slim! The odds of people who speak French as their native language randomly finding that one Amarilloan who happens to be bilingual in English and French are even slimmer! Not only are these stories true, they further enforce the previously made statement about me being a strong believer in providence. I feel drawn to France, but even more importantly, I feel France being drawn to me. I don’t know what is in store for me in two weeks, but as Rachel Biel has noted time and time again, “Dieu a des projets pour toi en France!” God has plans for me in France! The change which lies ahead is enormously complex and so ruthless towards the relationships I cherish with my friends and family; however, it is indeed necessary and magnificently intended!

By the way, I found an apartment for the month of September! I will share more with you as the details develop!